You know that thing you do? The one that makes time disappear. The skill that has your friends saying, "How did you do that?" while you're thinking, "What's the big deal? Anyone could do this!"
Spoiler alert: They can't. And that's the whole point.
As Reba McEntire wisely noted, "You have a God-given gift - now go use it and have fun." Simple words that pack the punch of a Nashville guitar riff.
Here's the thing about gifts: they're not meant to be stored in bubble wrap and tucked away in your spiritual attic. They're meant to be unwrapped, played with, and occasionally dropped on the floor. (Don't worry, the best gifts are surprisingly durable.)
The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
Remember when you needed a permission slip to go on field trips in school? Consider this your permission slip to use your gift. The principal (that's the universe) has already signed it. Your only job is to show up and get on the bus.
But here's where most of us get stuck. We're waiting for:
- The perfect moment (it doesn't exist)
- Complete mastery (also doesn't exist)
- The "right" credentials (mostly don't matter)
- Someone to tell us it's okay (you just got that from Reba)
The Market of One
Your gift isn't just about you – it's about the people who need precisely what only you can offer. You're a market of one, serving a tribe that's been waiting for your particular flavor of genius.
Think about it: Mozart didn't sit around wondering if the world needed another composer. He was too busy composing. Georgia O'Keeffe didn't poll focus groups about whether flowers were overdone as artistic subjects. She painted what she saw, how she saw it.
The Fun Factor
Notice how Reba didn't say, "Go use it and be serious all the time"? The fun part isn't optional – it's a crucial ingredient. When you're using your gift and having fun, you enter a contagious state of flow. Your joy becomes a beacon for others.
And yes, sometimes you'll fall flat on your face. That's part of the fun too. (Though maybe not in the moment when you're picking gravel out of your metaphorical knee.)
The Anti-Perfection Manifesto
Your gift doesn't need to be polished to a high shine before you share it. In fact, the rough edges and imperfections are often where the magic happens. They're the fingerprints that make your gift uniquely yours.
Think of your gift like a homemade cookie – it doesn't need to look Instagram-perfect to be delicious. Sometimes the ugliest cookies taste the best. (I'm looking at you, misshapen chocolate chip masterpieces.)
Your Next Move
The world is waiting for your gift. Not the perfect version. Not the someday version. The right-now version.
Start small if you need to. Start wobbly. Start with training wheels. But start.
Because here's the truth: your gift isn't just a gift to you – it's a gift to all of us. And keeping it under wraps is like keeping the cookies all to yourself. (And nobody likes a cookie hoarder.)
So, take Reba's words to heart. Unwrap your gift. Use it. Have fun with it.
And remember: the world needs that special thing that only you can do, even if you're the only one who believes it right now.
Now, go make some magic. And maybe some cookies, too. Both are always welcome.
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